Unbeknownst to Melon, Zayden had sinister plans.
The moment he stepped away, his accomplices were set to enact a dreadful scheme, intending to hand Melon over to human traffickers.
As Zayden prepared to leave, Melon reached out, clutching Zaydenâs sleeve with a look of earnest pleading in his eyes.
âUncle Zayden, will you come back?â he asked, his voice tinged with vulnerability.
Zayden paused, momentarily taken aback.
Patting Melonâs head with a reassuring smile, he replied, âOf course.
I returned just now, didnât I?â
This seemed to comfort Melon, who nodded and released Zaydenâs sleeve.
With genuine affection, he said, âIâll be here waiting.
Iâve had such fun with you today.
I hope we can spend more time together in the future.
â
Melonâs eyes, clear and hopeful, were fixed on Zayden.
For a brief moment, Zayden felt a twinge of softness at the sight of Melonâs innocent gaze.
However, he quickly suppressed this fleeting sentiment.
Despite Melonâs endearing nature, he reminded himself of the boyâs relation to Holden.
His resolve hardened.
His tasks required a lack of compassion.
With a smile still playing on his lips, Zayden ruffled Melonâs hair and walked away, feigning a trip to the restroom.
Upon reaching his destination, he planned to signal his accomplices, who were lurking nearby, ready to enact their grim plan.
Reaching into his pocket for his phone, he found it missing.
Puzzled, he searched again but to no avail.
As frustration began to set in, a knock sounded at the bathroom door.
Annoyed, Zayden called out, âWhoâs there?â
The response came in Melonâs familiar, youthful voice.
âUncle Zayden, why havenât you come out yet? Iâve been waiting for a long time.
â
âDamn it! Why was he here?â Zayden grumbled to himself, then quickly changed his tone, saying, âBe right there.
â
With a neutral expression, Zayden opened the bathroom door and glanced down at Melon.
Melon, looking up with a sweet smile, took Zaydenâs phone from behind his back and offered it to him.
âUncle Zayden, I found your phone outside.
I used it to call Mom to come get me.
She said sheâll be here soon.
Youâre not mad, right?â
Zayden couldnât help but snicker silently.
This kid was just like his dad.
They were hard to handle and clever.